Assembly and method for termite ground monitoring

ABSTRACT

An assembly and method for termite ground monitoring, the assembly including an upwardly opening cylindrical housing defining an interior space; a removable lid having a flanged upper surface; a bait stick cradle fitted for downward extension into the interior space; and cradle suspending ties interconnecting the lid and the bait stick cradle; the method including steps of burying the cylindrical housing within the ground so that the interior space opens upwardly; inserting a bait stick into the bait stick cradle; inserting the bait stick cradle into the interior space; providing an extension arm having a slotted lower end; downwardly extending the extension arm toward the lid, and engaging the slot with the lid&#39;s flange; and upwardly retracting the extension arm, the lid, the bait stick cradle, and the bait stick for inspection of the bait stick.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/435,724 filed May 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,858 andidentically titled. In said Ser. No. 10/435,724 application, theExaminer imposed a division restriction, requiring the Applicant toelect between method and apparatus claims. Ongoing prosecution of theapparatus claims was elected in said Ser. No. 10/435,724 application.This Divisional Application is filed prior to patent issuance underapplication Ser. No. 10/435,724; and only the method claims arepresented below.

The Applicant claims priority relating back to the filing of said Ser.No. 10/435,724 application and requests that this Divisional Applicationbe treated as filed on May 8, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods, apparatus, and assemblies for termitecontrol and extermination. More particularly, this invention relates tosuch methods and assemblies which include and use ground termitemonitoring stations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly known assemblies for termite control through ground monitoringcomprise multiple cylindrical housings, each having termite access portsor apertures, a lid for covering the housing, and a wooden bait stickfor insertion into and retention within the housing. In use of suchassemblies, cylindrical holes are dug within the ground, typically byaugering, the holes being positioned around the periphery of a buildingto be protected. Thereafter, the cylindrical housings are downwardlyinserted into the holes, wooden bait sticks are downwardly inserted intothe hollow interior spaces of the cylindrical housings, and lids areattached to the housings, covering the bait sticks within the housings'interior spaces. Thereafter, an operator of the system, typically a pestcontrol company employee, periodically returns to the building forinspection of the bait sticks for evidence of termite activity.

A problem or deficiency related to such common termite groundmonitoring, baiting, and exterminating systems is that the operator mustrepeatedly stoop or kneel to ground level for monitoring stationinstallations and for bait stick inspections, resulting in heightenedlevels of back strain injuries within the pest control company's workforce.

The instant inventive assembly and method for termite ground monitoringand baiting solves or ameliorates the problems discussed above byproviding ergonomic termite monitoring and baiting station componentsand method steps which allow for monitoring station installations andbait stick inspections from a standing position and without repeatedstooping to ground level.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary structural component of the assembly of the instant inventioncomprises an upwardly opening cylindrical housing having a side wallwhich defines a hollow interior space. The side wall preferably has aplurality of termite access ports allowing lateral passage of termitesfrom an exterior ground environment, through the access ports, and intothe hollow interior space of the cylindrical housing. Also preferably,the cylindrical housing further opens downwardly, facilitating insertionfrom below of termite bait sticks and further allowing upward access bytermites to the interior space defined by the cylindrical housing. Whilethe assembly of the instant invention may suitably comprise as few as asingle or a first rendition of such cylindrical housing, the assemblypreferably comprises a plurality of second similarly configuredhousings, the plurality being of a number sufficient for evenintermittent spacing within the ground around the periphery of abuilding to be protected by the monitoring system.

A further structural component of the assembly of the instant inventioncomprises a lid which is fitted for covering the upper opening of thecylindrical housing. Preferably, removable lid attaching means areprovided for removably connecting the lid to the cylindrical housing.Preferably, such removable lid attaching means is molded integrally withthe lid and integrally with the upper lip of the cylindrical housing,such means preferably comprising a rotating slotted flange and “L” hookcombination. Suitably, other removable attaching means may be utilizedsuch as snap ridge and snap channel combinations, snap lug and snapapertures combinations, intermeshing helical threads, mechanicallatches, velour crochet pads, and adhesive pads. Numerous other commonlyknown removable attaching means may similarly be suitably substitutedfor the preferred “L” hook and rotating slotted flange combination.Where the preferred plurality of cylindrical housings is provided, amatching plurality of lids is similarly provided, the removable lidattaching means further interconnecting the multiple lids and themultiple cylindrical housings.

A further structural component of the assembly of the instant inventioncomprises a bait stick cradle. Necessarily, the bait stick cradle isfitted for downward insertion into the interior space of the cylindricalhousing. Preferably, the bait stick cradle has a removable floor andpreferably, floor attaching means are provided, such means being adaptedfor removably connecting the floor to the bait stick cradle. Where theassembly comprises a removable floor and floor attaching meanscombination, removal of the floor allows a termite bait stick to beinserted upwardly into the bait stick cradle. Regardless of theremovability of the floor of the cradle, the floor preferably partiallycloses the lower end of the bait stick cradle, allowing downwarddrainage of water and upward termite bait stick access. Preferably, thefloor of the bait stick cradle comprises a plastic dowel, and preferablythe floor attaching means comprises dowel receiving snap channels or “C”channels which are molded into the lower ends of the walls of the baitstick cradle, such channels holding the dowel in a position spanningacross the lower end of the bait stick cradle. Suitably, the preferablyremovable bait stick cradle floor may alternately comprise an apertureddisk or plate and the floor attaching means may alternately compriseremovable attaching means similar to those described above for attachingthe lid to the upper end of the cylindrical housing. Where the inventiveassembly comprises, as preferred, pluralities of cylindrical housingsand lids, a plurality of bait stick cradles with attachable anddetachable floors is preferably similarly provided.

Means for suspending and downwardly extending the bait stick cradlebelow and from the lid are necessarily provided, such means preferablycomprising at least a first, and preferably a pair of rigid tiesinterconnecting the bait stick cradle and the lid. Other means forsuspending and downwardly extending the bait stick cradle below the lid,such as flexible cords, chains, or ties may be suitably substituted forthe preferred rigid ties.

A further preferred component of the assembly of the instant inventionpreferably comprises an extension arm, preferably having a length equalto the waist height of a system operator. Preferably, the extension armcomprises an upper handle means such as a “T” handle or knob, and thelower end of the extension arm necessarily forms extension arm attachingmeans adapted for successive removable attachments to the lids describedabove. Preferably, the extension arm attaching means comprises, incombination with structure integral with the upper surfaces of the lids,a friction slot and friction tab or flange combination. Other removableattaching means such as snap channel and snap ridge combinations, snaplug, and snap aperture combinations, intermeshing helical threads, andkey and key aperture combinations may be suitably alternately utilizedas the extension arm attaching means. Numerous other commonly knownremovable attaching means may be also suitably substituted.

According to the method of the instant invention, and assuming that aplurality of monitoring station assemblies as described above areprovided, cylindrical holes are augered peripherally around a buildingto be protected by the system. Preferably, an augering machine of thetype which is operable from a standing position is utilized for augeringsuch holes, and preferably, the holes are fitted for receiving theoutside diameters and vertical heights of the cylindrical housings.

Prior to or following the monitoring station holes augering steps,termite monitoring stations, including components configured asdescribed above, are assembled to include a termite bait stick carriedby a bait stick cradle suspended from a lid, the cradle and bait stickassembly extending downwardly from the lid and into the hollow interiorspace of the cylindrical housing. In such configuration, the lidattaching means preferably holds the lid upon the cylindrical housing,and holds the bait stick cradle and bait stick within the cylindricalhousing's interior space. Following assemblies of such monitoringstation components, the cylindrical housings are successively embeddedwithin the ground by inserting them into the monitoring station holes.For prevention of bending or stooping in such insertions steps, theextension arm is preferably utilized for downwardly extending andinserting the assembled monitoring stations into the monitoring stationholes.

Typically, the termite monitoring stations are allowed to remain withinthe ground undisturbed for approximately one month, at which time anoperator of the system returns to inspect the bait sticks which arehoused within the embedded stations. In order to inspect the bait stickswithout stooping or bending, the operator preferably utilizes theextension arm to disengage the lid attaching means of the monitoringstations, and to upwardly retract the lids, bait stick cradles, andcarried bait sticks for visual inspections. Thereafter, the extensionarm may be utilized for re-assembly of the stations within the groundwithout stooping to ground level.

Accordingly, objects of the instant inventive assembly and methodcomprise providing a termite monitoring station having a lid and havinga downwardly extending bait stick carrying cradle, such lid facilitatingease of insertion and retrieval of bait sticks.

It is a further object of said invention to provide structure,implements, and method steps integral with or associated with theinventive monitoring station and allowing for bait monitoring stationinstallations and subsequent bait stick inspections without bending orstooping to ground level.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the presentinvention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review ofthe Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the monitoring station of the instantinventive assembly and method.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as indicated in FIG. 1, the view showing themonitoring station embedded within the ground, and the view showingattachment of an extension arm shown in partial view.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the assembly depicted in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the termitemonitoring station of the assembly of the instant invention is referredto generally by Reference Arrow 1. The monitoring station 1 comprises acylindrical housing 2 having at least a plurality of, and preferably amultiplicity of termite access ports 4. Referring simultaneously toFIGS. 1 and 2, the cylindrical housing 2 preferably has a hollowinterior space 8 which opens upwardly and, preferably, has a loweropening 6. The upper lip of the cylindrical housing 2 preferablycomprises an outwardly extending annular ground engaging flange 10. Theupper surface of flange 10 preferably forms an annular lid receiving andcentering ridge 12, said ridge 12 supporting a pair of radially opposedlid retaining “L” hooks 14 and 16.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a bait stick cradle andlid combination is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 25, suchcombination preferably comprising a lid 32, a bait stick cradle 24, anda pair of rigid ties 18 extending downwardly from the lid 32, andinterconnecting the bait stick cradle 24 with the lid 32. Preferably,the rigid ties 18 form and define laterally opening termite access ports20 and 21. Also preferably, upper ends of ties 18 form and define ahollow cylindrical space 26, such space functioning to retain bait stick60 in its upright position. Also preferably, the lower end of bait stickcradle 24 forms “C” clip channels 28 for receipt of and for removableattachment of a dowel rod 30. The dowel rod 30 serves as a floor of baitstick cradle 24, the dowel rod 30 retaining a bait stick 60 below lid32, while providing for downward drainage of water, and upward termiteaccess. Preferably, the outside diameter of the lid 32 is fitted fornesting receipt within the inside diameter of ridge 12. Also preferably,the lid 32 is molded to include a cylindrical upwardly opening cavity34, such cavity 34 having a flange or wall 40 spanning thereacross, theflange or wall 40 serving as a removable attaching means for alternateconnection to and detachment from an extension arm which is referred togenerally by Reference Arrow 50.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vertical thickness of lid32 is slightly less than the vertical height of “L” hooks 14 and 16,allowing lid 32 to slidably rotate beneath “L” hooks 14 and 16. Lid 32has slots 36 and 38 for alternate engagement and disengagement of lid 32with and from flange 10. Upon rotation of lid 32 90° from the positiondepicted in FIG. 1, slots 36 and 38 respectively underlie “L” hooks 14and 16. In such position, lid 32, along with underlying cradle 24, maybe freely inserted into and withdrawn from the interior space 8 of thecylindrical housing 2. Upon rotation of lid 32 to the orientationdepicted in FIG. 1, “L” hooks 14 and 16 effectively retain the lid 32and the underlying cradle 24 within space 8.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 2 and 3, extension arm 50 preferablyhas a shaft 52 having a length equal to waist height, a “T” handle, andan enlarged foot 56, the foot 56 having a slot 58. The dimensions ofslot 58 are preferably closely fitted to the dimensions of flange 40,allowing the foot 56 in combination with flange 40 to serve as aremovable lid attaching means.

In use of the assembly depicted in FIGS. 1–3, an augering machine (notdepicted) is preferably utilized for augering a monitoring station hole64 within ground material 62. Preferably, such augering machine isoperable from a standing position without bending or stooping.Thereafter, or alternately preliminarily, the lid and bait stick cradlecombination 25 is secured within cylindrical housing 2, and bait stick60 is secured within space 26 to rest upon dowel rod 30. In commercialpackaging and use of multiple renditions of the monitoring station 1,such station is preferably shipped upside down within a box (notdepicted), and in the latched configuration depicted in FIG. 1. In suchshipping configuration, lower ends of bait stick cradles 24 are exposedwithin the opening of such box, allowing an operator to remove dowels30, insert bait sticks 60 through the opened lower cradle ends, and toreplace dowels 30. In such configuration, such box may be held upon aportable waist height working stand in close proximity with monitoringstation holes 64 augered within the ground. Thereafter, an operator,while grasping extension arm 50 in one hand, may retrieve from such boxwith his other hand a termite monitoring station 1. Thereafter, theoperator may manually align slot 58 of foot 56 with flange 40, andcompressively drive slot 58 over slot 40, connecting the lid and baitstick cradle combination 25, the bait stick 60, and the cylindricalhousing 2 to the lower end of the extension arm 50. Thereafter, theoperator may release the monitoring station 1, allowing the monitoringstation 1 to suspend from the lower end of the extension arm 50.Thereafter, the operator may utilize the extension arm 50 to downwardlyextend and direct the monitoring station 1 into the monitoring stationhole 64, embedding the monitoring station 1 within the ground withoutstooping. Thereafter, the operator may place a foot upon exposed uppersurfaces of the lid 32 or of the flange 10, and upwardly pull theextension arm 50, disengaging slot 58 from flange 40. Repetition of theprocedure described above allows the operator to embed numerousrenditions of monitoring station 1 within the ground 62 without bendingor stooping to ground level.

Upon departure and subsequent return of the operator to the monitoringstation site (typically weeks later), the operator may downwardly extendextension arm 50, aligning slot 58 of foot 56 with flange 40, anddownwardly drive slot 58 over flange 40, engaging the lower end ofextension arm 50 with lid 32. Thereafter, the operator may rotate “T”handle 54 90°, rotating lid 32 90°, and aligning slots 36 and 38 with“L” hooks 14 and 16. Thereafter, the operator may upwardly raise theextension arm 50 along with the lid and bait stick cradle combination25, such combination carrying bait stick 60. Upon raising the lid andbait stick cradle combination 25 to eye level, the operator may view thebait stick 60 through port 20 or through 21 to determine whethertermites have begun to feed upon bait stick 60. Thereafter, the lid andbait stick cradle combination 25, along with bait stick 60, or areplacement insecticide carrying bait stick (not depicted), may bereturned to its original position within cylindrical housing 2, andwithout stooping, through a reversal of the steps described above.Through repetition of the bait stick inspection procedure describedabove, an operator may inspect several monitoring stations withoutstooping or bending to ground level.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the aboveillustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modificationsin the structure, arrangement, portions, components, and method steps ofthe invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, itis intended that the description and drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention begiven a scope commensurate with the appended claims.

1. A method for ergonomic termite ground monitoring comprising the stepsof: (a) providing at least a first open ended cylindrical housing havinga wall defining an interior space, the wall having a plurality oftermite access ports; (b) embedding the at least first open endedcylindrical housing within the ground so that said housing's interiorspace opens upwardly from the ground; (c) providing at least a firstlid, at least a first bait stick, at least a first bait stick cradle,and providing suspending means, the suspending means downwardlyextending the at least first bait stick cradle from the at least firstlid; (d) inserting the at least first bait stick into the at least firstbait stick cradle; (e) inserting the at least first bait stick cradledownwardly into the interior space; (f) providing an extension armhaving a lower end, the lower end comprising first attaching meansadapted for removably attaching the lower end to the at least first lid,the first attaching means being further adapted for suspending the atleast first lid from the extension arm's lower end; (g) downwardlyextending the extension arm toward the at least first lid, and operatingthe first attaching means to connect the lower end of the extension armto the at least first lid; (h) upwardly retracting the extension arm,the upward retraction of the extension arm upwardly retracting the atleast first lid, the upward retraction of the at least first lidupwardly retracting the at least first bait stick cradle, the upwardretraction of the at least first bait stick cradle upwardly retractingthe at least first bait stick; and (i) inspecting the at least firstbait stick.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the embedding stepcomprises providing an augering machine which is operable from astanding position, operating said machine to auger at least a firstmonitoring station hole, and inserting the at least first open endedcylindrical housing into the at least first monitoring station hole. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein the at least first open ended cylindricalhousing and lid providing steps comprise providing second attachingmeans adapted for removably attaching the at least first lid to the atleast first open ended cylindrical housing, wherein the at least firstbait stick cradle inserting step comprises operating the secondattaching means to attach the at least first lid to the at least firstopen ended cylindrical housing, wherein the first attaching meansoperating step comprises preliminarily connecting the lower end of theextension arm to the at least first lid, wherein the at least first openended cylindrical housing inserting step comprises downwardly extendingthe extension arm, the at least first lid, the at least first bait stickcradle, the at least first bait stick, and the at least first open endedcylindrical housing into the at least first monitoring station hole, thefirst attaching means operating step further comprising subsequentlydetaching the lower end of the extension arm from the at least firstlid.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least first open endedcylindrical housing providing step comprises providing said housing withan open lower end, wherein the at least first bait stick cradleproviding step comprises providing said at least first bait stick cradlewith an attachable and detachable floor, and wherein the at least firstbait stick inserting step comprises upward extension of the at leastfirst bait stick into the at least first bait stick cradle and attachingthe attachable and detachable floor to the at least first bait stickcradle.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising steps of providing aplurality of second open ended cylindrical housings defining a pluralityof second interior spaces; embedding the second open ended cylindricalhousings within the ground so that their interior spaces open upwardlyfrom the ground; providing a plurality of second lids; providing aplurality of second bait stick cradles, the suspending means furtherdownwardly extending the second bait stick cradles from the second lids;providing a plurality of second bait sticks; inserting the second baitsticks into the second bait stick cradles; inserting the second baitstick cradles downwardly into the second interior spaces; and operatingthe extension arm to successively retract the second lids and the secondbait stick cradles from the second interior spaces; and successivelyinspecting the second bait sticks.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein theembedding steps comprise providing an augering machine which is operablefrom a standing position, operating said machine to auger a plurality ofmonitoring station holes within the ground, and inserting the at leastfirst open ended cylindrical housing and the plurality of second openended cylindrical housings into the plurality of monitoring stationholes.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least first open endedcylindrical housing providing step, the plurality of second open endedcylindrical housings providing step, the at least first lid providingstep, and the plurality of second lids providing step comprise providingsecond attaching means for removably attaching the at least first andplurality of second lids to the at least first and plurality of secondopen ended cylindrical housings, wherein the at least first bait stickcradle inserting and the second bait stick cradles inserting stepscomprise repeatedly operating the second attaching means to attach theat least first and plurality of second lids to the at least first andplurality of second open ended cylindrical housings, wherein the firstattaching means operating step further comprises successively andpreliminarily connecting the lower end of the extension arm to the atleast first and plurality of second lids, wherein the at least first andplurality of second open ended cylindrical housings inserting stepscomprise successively downwardly extending the extension arm, the atleast first and plurality of second lids, the at least first andplurality of second bait stick cradles, the at least first and pluralityof second open ended cylindrical housings, and the at least first andplurality of second bait sticks into the plurality of monitoring stationholes.